A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

August 6, 2017         10:30 am 

Meditation 

God is more anxious to bestow his blessings upon us than we are to receive them. — St. Augustine of Hippo

From there to Here

Welcome & Announcements
Welcome to this service of worship!  During the service, you are invited to rise in body or in spirit, standing or sitting, at points in the service marked “ ” .”
Please sign in using the pew folder, passing it back down the row so all can greet one another by name, and place the sheet in an offering plate. We’re glad you’re here!
Prelude How Great Thou Art S. K. Hine
John Maupin, fiddle
¨  Call to Worship
One: The day breaks
All:     And God does not let us go.
One: The hour calls
All: And God does not let us go.
One:   The evening falls
All: And God holds us fast.
One: Let us turn to God in worship
All:     God, who never turns from us.
 — Rev. Kaji S. Douša
¨  Opening Hymn #362 When Love Is Found O Waly Waly
¨  Prayer of Approach and Confession    
One: God has stricken us                                        
All: And will bind up our wounds.
One: We bring to God all that is comfortable and self-satisfied in us, and we let it go.
God has stricken us                                        
All: And will bind up our wounds.
One: We bring to God the times we have avoided the struggle, taken the line of least resistance, colluded, and let them go.
God has stricken us                                        
All: And will bind up our wounds.
One: And because we believe that God does bless us, we bring to God our questions and doubts and uncertainties, and we offer them.
Bless us as you name us                                 
All: As those who have prevailed.
One: We bring to God all that we find hard to deal with, tasks, relationships, feelings, and we offer them
Bless us as you name us                                 
All: As those who have prevailed.
One: We bring to God all the messy, unwinnable struggles and adversities that we face, and offer them. Bless us as you name us                            
All: As those who have prevailed.
¨ Words of Assurance
One: Friends, God has blessed and named you, and will continue to bless you and claim you, even sending you forth to bless others. This is the good news.
All: Thanks be to God!  Amen!
¨  Passing the Peace of Christ
All who come to this sanctuary are welcome companions on this day! You are invited to turn to those nearest you and greet them with words of peace and joy. 

The Living Word among us

Musical Meditation Blue Moon of Kentucky B. Monroe
John Maupin
Hebrew Scripture Lesson                            Genesis 32:22-31
Children’s Moment                                        as the children return to their seats we sing:
May God’s presence guard, protect and guide you.  God bless you, God bless you. Our savior’s loving arms be ever ’round you. God bless you, God bless you.
Following Children’s Moment, children are welcome to visit the Children’s Worship Center, where there are toys, books, and drawing materials for children (or parents) who would like help staying present in the service. For children preschool & under, care is available in the Nursery, which is NOW downstairs in Room 104 off the playground. Follow the blue butterflies!!!
Gospel Lesson Matthew 14:13-21
Sermon Give and Take Rev. Rachel Small Stokes

GIfts Given for Love to Flow

Our gifts help sustain this particular community of caring by sustaining the building, pastors and staff, and all the materials that make our ministry of healing, justice, and teaching available to all in need. In addition, a good portion of our contributions flows out to aid to those in need via many external agencies.
This can now be done online or by text to 859-448-3403 (Example: Text “$50.00 Offering” to contribute to the ongoing ministries, or add “youth,” or “missions” or designation of your choice to benefit one in particular.
Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!
Offertory                    Amazing Grace att. M. O’Connor
John Maupin
¨  Doxology                 Avery/Marsh

Responding to God’s Love in Communion

Invitation to Communion
One:     God be with you.
All:     And also with you.
One:     The spirit of the Lord is among us!
All:     We wrestle and are blessed!           
One:     Abundance and joy are the fruits of the kin-dom.
All:     These are the ways of God. These are the signs of God’s Jubilee.
Special Blessing for Kent and Diana
Rev. Rachel will offer a blessing for the couple on their marriage.  Then, when indicated, we ask the congregation to join in the blessing:
All: God of our mothers and fathers, hear us as we pledge to support Kent and Diana in their marriage. May we be a blessing to them, and they a blessing to all whom they encounter. With faith in you, and in each other, may they always bear witness to the reality of  love. May their love continue to grow and be a reflection of your love and blessing for us all. Amen.
One:     As we come to this table, we are reminded that this is not the table of this congregation, nor is it the table of any particular denomination.  It is the table of Jesus Christ, the family feast of the whole people of God.
One:     The Kin-dom of God is a basket of plenty. Though we did not ask, even though we may have felt excluded, Jesus invites us here. When we may feel deserted, Jesus welcomes us and prepares the meal.
One:     This is the heart of plenty, where the most ordinary harvest of grain and the smallest catch of fish becomes a feast. These baskets are the table of plenty offered by Christ. Our sharing is the promise and the picture of the realm of God made real. Come, all who hunger, come. There is plenty: for you and for all.
Ringing of the Peace Bell
The Union Church Peace Bell was created by Jeff Enge in honor of Union Church member Carl Eschbach (1904-1998).  A twin bell hangs in Berea’s sister province in Japan and is also rung in the hope of peace for all nations.
Silent Prayers and Prayers of the Community
Communion Prayer
One:     Gathered in the small groups of your congregations around the world, we seat ourselves on the ground of your love. We give you thanks for all that has made it possible for us to be together: the blessings of your creation…the teaching of your prophets…the discipleship of your Son Jesus who came to us humbly born, deeply wise, and truly loving. Standing with all who have known your touch through the centuries, and for decades in this place, we sing your praises…
Sanctus John Bell
Words of Institution
One:     On the day when so many thousands had gathered hot and tired, longing for salvation, Jesus saw them and had compassion upon them.
One:     How will we feed them, his disciples asked?
All:     “Don’t send them away. You give them something to eat,” Jesus said to them.
One:     We remember that he asked the crowd to turn to one another and sit in groups on the green hillside.
One:     When they had done so he asked what was at hand. They said to him:
All:    “Only 5 loaves and two fish.”
One:     Jesus took the loaves and looking up to heaven he blessed them and broke them and gave them to the disciples to set before the people.
One:     In the same way he took the fish, blessed them, and divided them among the many thousands.
One:     By this meal we remember the abundance of God’s love and the power of a community in Christ. Lord, send your holy spirit upon this bread and on these fish, that all our reticence may be turned to generosity, and that your grace may multiply in us and through us for all the hungry of your world.
All:     Come Holy Spirit, Come!
Serving One Another
All who seek the love of God are welcome at this meal and are invited to freely receive from it.  We will share the elements today by intinction, dipping the bread in the cup. When invited please come to one of the stations by exiting your pew to the left and returning by the right. If it is not convenient to come forward, the elements can be brought to your seat by signaling to the usher. All the bread is gluten-free, and the chalices are filled with non-alcoholic grape juice. The fish is also available to taste and remember Jesus’ miracle of feeding
Blessing for Those Who Will Receive at Home
Members who have been designated to carry communion to those who could not be with us this morning are invited forward at this time. The elements from our meal will go with our blessing and prayers for our continued unity in the Spirit. If you would like serve by taking communion to others, you are very welcome to do so and are invited to volunteer.
Prayer of Thanksgiving

From Here to There

¨  Closing Hymn #347 Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ Linstead
¨  Benediction & Sending Forth
    Postlude A Trumpet Fancy L. Nelson
Especially in our prayers
Each week we join millions of Christians who pray for one another through the ecumenical prayer cycle and, locally, the Berea Ministerial Association’s prayer cycle.  Let us hold the people of  Cameroon, Central African Republic and Equatorial Guinea and our brothers and sisters at Berea Baptist Church in our hearts, and pray for them.
Please hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week. Prayer requests to be printed may be sent to the office anytime before 10:00 am Fridays.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes, or who are homebound:  Ruth Butwell, Edith Hansen, Mary Miller, Alva Peloquin, Gloria VanWinkle.
¨ Prayers for Rev. Kent and  Rev. Diana Hultgren, who married yesterday!
¨ Susan Doring-Zook, recovering from surgery on her arm, broken in a fall. Meal Train at www.mealtrain.com/trains/wodzge.  
¨ Laura Robie, recovering at home from a shoulder replacement.
¨ Travel mercies for members & friends here and abroad. 
¨ Mary Miller, back at the Terrace after a difficult hospitalization. Visitors welcome and desired!
¨ Rev. Rachel’s cousin, Jeff Small, father of two small kids, who is on a heart transplant waiting list.
¨ Sue Peterson Blyth and all loved ones of Andy Blyth as they mourn his passing. A service in celebration of Andy’s life will be held here at Union, Sept. 3, at 2 pm.
¨ The people of Venezuela, who are starving because of political struggles.
Announcements
You Matter! Please Sign the Register, Check in on Facebook/Twitter and try a nametag! It’s hard to get to know people elsewhere, but we don’t want it that way at church.  Let’s all try to get to know each other better.
Our Nursery is now located in Room 104, off the playground!!   
Special birthday reception August 6: Jennie Kiteck is turning 90! On Sunday, August 6, between 12:00 & 3:00 you are invited to celebrate with her and her family in the Community Room.  
Burger Bash/Pool Party Today!
Join us at the Berea City Pool!  We’ll meet at the pavilion behind the pool at 5pm, then the pool is ours from 7-9pm. We’ll provide meat and veggie burgers and buns; you bring the sides!
Celtic Gala Concert at Union Church August 19, 8 pm! For eight years Berea Celtic Fest has produced one great event after the other with absolute quality Celtic music from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, England, Brittany, Galicia and across the North American continent.
This year’s “Celtic Gala Concert” will take place at Union Church and will also be a fundraiser and friendraiser for KEF – Kentucky Environmental Foundation and in cooperation with The Folk Circle Association of Berea.
The event includes a short intermission where you can meet KEF folks and buy CDs from the musicians.
Tickets are $20, $5 children & students,$75 priority seating – available at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3000155
Celtic Concert needs Volunteers!  The Celtic Gala Concert supporting Kentucky Environmental Foundation needs YOUR help. If you can help with taking tickets at the door, cleaning dishes after the musicians dinner or CD sales contact Sune Frederiksen at 248-0690. If you can help with tidying up the sanctuary after the concert contact Dave Kobersmith at davek@union-church.org  
School supplies are needed by Berea Family Resource Youth Service Center including college-ruled single subject notebooks, one-inch binders & markers Donations may be left in the church office.
Scribes to help our Pastors. You may see a member of the Pastoral Relations Board standing near the pastors as they greet folks on their way out of the worship service. These are scribes—their job is to note  important conversations and details the pastors  might forget in the activity.
Are you a Creative Decorator?  The Worship Board seeks folks to “boldly and creatively” rethink our sanctuary décor.   Do you have some ideas?  Can you help?  If so, please talk to one of the pastors. 
Help Wanted!  We have an ongoing need for volunteers to help with Sunday services.  Can you be a worship reader, greeter, coffee angel, etc.?   For details go to the church website, union-church.org and click on “Volunteer” near the upper right corner (or talk to Doug Hindman).